Sumatra's Pariaman Beckons Visitors With Age-Old Charm

By Kurniawati Kamarudin PARIAMAN (PADANG), March 14 (Bernama) -- Located in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, Pariaman is a district with rich natural heritage, and its people follow the traditional way of life. The vast district also includes six islands - Pulau Bando, Pulau Gosong, Pulau Ujung, Pulau Tangah, Pulau Anso Duo, and Pulau Kasiak - that still look very clean. Looking at the place today, it is hard to believe that Pariaman is among the districts in Sumatra that once took the brunt of the earthquake in Sept 30, 2009, that killed up to 1,200 people. During the tragedy, in Pariaman alone, almost 80 per cent of the houses and buildings were destroyed, with some villages buried underground. The strong 80,000 Minangkabau population, however, rebuilt their lives and the local economy that depends on paddy and coconut cultivation, and animal breeding. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE Yet, the same earthquake introduced Pariaman to other parts of the Indonesian archipelago and the rest of the world. The volunteers from all over the world who came to help during the aftermath spread the word on Pariaman's natural splendour and the unique cultural attributes of the Minangkabau society upon their return. "The earthquake was a blessing in disguise," says Riky Falantino, the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) Head for Pariaman. "There are many tourism avenues in Pariaman, we have everything, the vast green paddy fields, beautiful islands and sea, and a wonderful culture. "Pariaman's doors are wide open for visitors," he told Bernama during the recent Youth Exchange and Study Program (Y-E-S), organised by Malaysian Youth Hostel Association (MYHA) and Pariaman's administrators. A TOURIST HAVEN Located strategically between the capital city of Padang in West Sumatra and the highland resort city of Bukit Tinggi, it takes about an hour’s drive from the Bandara Internasional Minangkabau airport in Padang, and is a two-hour drive away from Bukit Tinggi. And traveling to Pariaman from Padang is now much easier, as there are daily rail services with the two-hour journey offering a view of the grassy hills and paddy fields, apart from the daily routine of the locals. However, there are only two daily trains from Padang to Pariaman - at 6.30am and 11am respectively, with the corresponding return journey at 9am and 4pm. The rail journey to Pariaman ends near the Gondariah beach, a wonderful place to relax. Blessed with a long shoreline, Pariaman has other beaches, too, like Pantai Cermin, Pantai Kata, and Pantai Sunur that are right for surfing. PLEASING LOCAL FOOD AND MANY PLACES OF INTEREST Upon arriving there, one should not miss the chance to try the Sala Lauak, a dish made from rice flour, saffron and fish. The locals here eat Sala with rice or 'nasi himpit' (boiled rice cakes) with gulai lemak pucuk paku (spicy coconut milk gravy with herbs). As Pariaman's coconuts are known to be the best in Indonesia, they provide a distinct flavour for the Minangkabau dishes, including the Nasi Padang – a banquet of seafood, meat, vegetables mostly infused in spicy condiments and coconut milk. Apart from food, the people of Pariaman are also proud of their artwork. The women's handwork, woven clothing and scarf, show unique artistic value and are worth taking a look. The Minangkabau architecture is also beautiful. Many of the houses and buildings are proof of this. When in Pariaman, one should not miss the chance to visit Pulau Angso Duo which has the 4.5-metre grave of Sheikh Burhanuddin, a Muslim scholar (Ulema), who was closely linked with the rise of Islam here. RICH IN CULTURE The Minangkabau take pride in their cultural heritage and the famous 'tarian piring' is one of their cultural offerings. They hold on to many unique traditions and among them is the marriage custom where the bride literally buys the groom. And there is another offering, the Tabuik celebration. Celebrated from the 1st to the 10th of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, Tabuik is celebrated on a grand scale and it is one of the seven national celebrations. Thousands of Pariaman residents and tourists from as far as Iran join in the Tabuik ritual, practised by the Muslims of the Syiah sect to re-enact the Karbala war. The celebration closes on the 10th of Muharram when two 12-metre-high Tabuik made from bamboos in the shape of a totem pole along with eight decorated umbrellas are released into the sea. THE EGG TEA While in Pariaman, don't forget to try the egg tea that is said to refresh the body's energy. The tea is mixed with an egg from the free-range chicken, and is said to be the men's favourite. It is often consumed at late night. The writer had the opportunity to get to the Kuraitaji Market, a favourite spot to treat oneself to this favourite local drink. Batman, 55, one of the egg tea sellers in the market, noted that he uses up to 200 free range chicken eggs to satisfy his customers' demand. The eggs are beaten with hand using an egg-beater and it takes up to five minutes to get the desired results. "It is much tastier if you beat it yourself, and when added with tea and milk, the foul smell of the egg is no longer there," says Batman who charges 5,000 rupiah for each glass of egg tea. Pariaman is always a new experience for a curious traveler. No doubt, the coastal city provides new insights into its rich natural heritage and the rich cultural heritage of its Minangkbau community. -- BERNAMA